Public Speaking
A 4‑H member can enter any of the three contests but no more than one entry per contest. All Speeches and Presentations must be 4‑H related with the exception of Novice and Clover Kid divisions.
Speech Contest
Pay Code 170
Speeches vary in time length by age and experience of the contestant.
· Clover Kid (5-7 year old): Time limit is under 2 minutes. Can be a speech, poem or story. Does not have to be about 4‑H.
· Novice Division (8-10 year old): who have not competed in the contest before). Participants can read or recite a poem or story, talk about a place, item or event, and under 3 minutes long. Notecards are allowed.
· Junior Division (8-10 year old): speeches are original speeches relating to some aspect of 4‑H, and 1-3 minutes long. Use of notecards is allowed, but shouldn’t be a crutch. Youth 8 years and older are eligible for state contest rules https://4h.unl.edu/public-speaking
· Intermediate Division (11-13 year old): speeches are original speeches relating to some aspect of 4‑H, and 3-5 minutes long. Use of notecards is allowed, but not encouraged. Eligible for state contest.
· Senior Division (14-18 years old): speeches are original speeches relating to some aspect of 4‑H, written by the member and 5-8 minutes long. Use of notecards is allowed, but not encouraged. Eligible for state contest.
B100901 - Clover Kid Division 5-7 years
B100902 - Novice Division (first-time in contest)
B100903 - Junior Division 8-10 years
B100904 - Intermediate Division 11-13 years
B100905 - Senior Division 14-18 years
PSA Contest
Pay Code 170
Radio PSA’s will be submitted electronically along with the PSA text prior to the County Contest.
Radio PSA’s must promote 4‑H
· All PSA’s are 60 seconds in length.
· The state theme for the 2025 Public Service Announcement is “Ready Today, Leading Tomorrow” and should be incorporated in the PSA.
· All radio PSA’s must promote 4‑H and be general enough to be used anywhere in Nebraska at any time of the year.
· All 4‑H PSA’s must include the following tag line within the last ten seconds of the PSA: “Learn more about Nebraska Extension 4‑H Youth Development Program at 4h.unl.edu.” The tag line is included in the 60 second time limit.
· Sound effects and public domain music may be used. Copyrighted material may not be used.
· All PSA’s must be the original work of the presenter. Contestants may not use PSA’s written and provided by the state or national staff.
- All PSA audio files need to be submitted to amanda.hackenkamp@unl.edu in a .wav or .mp3 format by April 13th.
· No team PSA’s are allowed.
B101901 - Junior Division 8-10 years
B101902 - Intermediate Division 11-13 years
B101903 - Senior Division 14-18 years
Presentation Contest
4‑H Illustrated Presentations Contest
Scoresheet SF65
Pay Code 170
Entries must receive a Purple ribbon at county fair and be selected to advance to State Fair.
An Illustrated Presentation, given by one (1) individual or a team of two (2) individuals, is a live presentation with a formal talk where youth will use visual aids (such as props, posters, computer-based visuals, handouts, video, etc.) to show and tell others how to do something. Presentations are given on a stage. Judge views the entire presentation and engages in a question-and-answer session following presentation.
Participant Requirements:
· All participants must have received a purple rating at a County 4‑H Presentations contest to be eligible for State Contest.
· Time limit is 3-5 minutes for a presentation given by an junior individual, and 6-8 minutes for presentation given by intermediate individual, and 5-7 minutes for a presentation given by a junior team, and 8-10 minutes for a presentation given by a intermediate team. Participants will be penalized if their presentation exceeds the time limits.
Presentation Topic:
· All 4‑H Presentations topics should be related to what the 4‑H youth is learning through 4‑H educational experience focused on the priorities of career and college readiness, community development, entrepreneurship, food supply confidence, healthy living, leadership development, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math).
· 4‑H Presentations should include an introduction (the “why” portion of the topic), a body (the “show and tell” portion of the topic), and a conclusion/summary (the “what” portion of the topic).
Contest Information:
- The contest dates and locations for all classes can be found in the 4‑H Schedule at: https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair. The contest times will be made available online at https://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/contests/presentations as soon as possible after Nebraska State Fair entries are due.
· The check-in area will contain a refrigerator and a temporary storage space for presentation supplies. Only presenters and contest officials will be permitted in the designated preparation areas, no relatives or friends, please. Presenters are expected to clean up the areas in which they work.
- Equipment provided at County Contest includes two (2) tables, one (1) easel, Computer, Projector and Wi-Fi internet. Any power points for presentations need to be submitted to amanda.hackenkamp@unl.edu by April 13th.
· Equipment provided at State Contest includes two (2) tables, one (1) easel, PC Compatible Computer (including the following software: Apple QuickTime Player, Microsoft Windows Media Player, and Microsoft PowerPoint 2019) with Wi-Fi internet connectivity, projector or television screen, and hands-free microphone.
· Participants may also provide their own computer or other equipment as needed; however, participants must be able to connect their computer to an HDMI plug on the television.
· Live animals will not be able to be used in the presentation. Alternative ways of showing information about live animals (models, videos, photos) are encouraged.
B151113 - Illustrated Presentation
Clover Kid Show & Tell
Pay Code 240
The purpose of this contest is to give Clover Kids an opportunity to show and tell about an item they have made during the current year. The participant will bring the item and give a 1 – 3 minute talk.
B151901 - Clover Kid Show & Tell
Culinary Challenge Contest
Pay Code 170
All entries must be pre-entered on the General Entry Form by the first Friday of July at the Extension Office.
The 4‑H Culinary Challenge Contest will require youth to demonstrate healthy decision making through nutrition, food preparation, menu planning, and food safety; utilizing a foods and nutrition curriculum. They will apply healthy living knowledge and skills by planning a nutritious menu, demonstrating their understanding of time management skills in the kitchen, and expressing their originality and creativity through an appropriate themed and properly set table. To showcase these skills, youth will create a menu, prepare one food item, and choose an appropriate theme for their occasion while expressing their food, nutrition, and food safety knowledge during a live interview with a judge at the contest. In order to highlight knowledge and skills acquired during pre-contest preparation, youth will utilize technology as part of their interview.
Rules
Challenge Ingredient/Item
1. A challenge ingredient will be selected each year, highlighting a Nebraska commodity food product. The 2026 challenge ingredient is potatoes. Please keep food safety in mind when selecting the recipe used for the Challenge. Foods must be able to be kept chilled during transport to the contest, then be able to be re-heated in a microwave (or oven at County level only) if needed. Each team must incorporate the challenge ingredient into their food item they will be presenting during the contest. This may require altering a recipe or creatively incorporating an item into their overall table theme. The challenge ingredient must also be included in the interview presentation, demonstrating youth knowledge of the ingredient, such as nutritional value, a farm-to-fork concept, or how to adapt a recipe to include the ingredient.
Judges Interview
1. The individual or team should view themselves as the hosts, welcoming the judge, cooperatively presenting the table to the judge, incorporating multi-media resources, and answering any questions from the judge. Individuals or teams must be prepared to present to the judge utilizing technology, such as PowerPoint, picture story, or other multi-media resource. Presentations may include photos, clip art, animation, video or audio sound. The 4‑H members should cooperatively present a verbal presentation to the judge that is highlighted by their multi-media presentation via computer or tablet. Participants must provide their own computer or other equipment needed for their 4‑H Foods Event judging interview. Presentations will occur at participants’ tables. Please do not bring projectors or other equipment which will require extra space.
Considerations should be given to creatively include the following items through the multi-media presentation:
· Nutritional facts of their menu
· Food safety
· Time management
· Choice of menu
· Food preparation
· Cost of item/per serving
· Food handling techniques
· Recipe of the food item shared with the judge.
· Challenge ingredient (nutritional value, farm-to-fork, recipe revision, etc.)
General Rules / Guidelines
1. For State Fair, teams will consist of two (2) members to be eligible to compete. 4‑H members must be 8 years of age as of Jan 1 of current year.
2. Judging interviews will be approximately 12 to 15 minutes This time includes a short presentation by the teams, as well as questions from the judge.
3. Participants must provide their own card table for the display.
4. Check-in area will contain a microwave and *limited* temporary storage for table settings.
5. Only contestants will be allowed to set up or arrange table settings.
6. Participants must have their table setting ready by the assigned time. Once tables are set, contestants should stay with their tables, as they are responsible for items placed on tables. Chairs will be available for contestants.
7. During judging, 4‑H members may choose to dress in appropriate clothing, costume, or accessories relevant to the theme.
County Only Classes
F500995 - Clover Kid Division 5-7 years
F500010- Junior Division 8 - 10 years
F500011- Intermediate Division 11 -13 years
F500012- Senior Division 14-18 years